Lisa Fitzsimmons
Course Materials Manager, Shocker Store
Rhatigan Student Center
You may not immediately recognize the name Lisa Fitzsimmons, but for the past 25 years, she has been one of the cornerstones of the Shocker Store. If you’ve ever bought a textbook, heard about the Access Now program, or browsed through our school and office supplies, then Lisa has quietly played a part in your WSU experience.
Lisa began her journey with us on August 17, 2000, and what a memorable start it was. Hired as the Course Materials Manager, she jumped straight into the whirlwind of the fall semester rush, learning her new role in real time. With a crash course from then-bookstore director Kevin Konda on how to read a shelf tag, Lisa was off and running — and she’s been making an impact ever since.
Over the years, Lisa has witnessed remarkable changes: the renovation of our Rhatigan Student Center store, the addition of the Braeburn Square location, and the evolution from traditional textbooks to digital course materials, a shift that became especially vital during COVID. Through it all, Lisa has remained steady, flexible, and forward-thinking, helping guide the Shocker Store through every transition with patience and grace.
Her adaptability has truly shined through her leadership of WSU’s digital course materials program, Access Now. When the program began in 2018, only a handful of classes used e-books and digital courseware. Today, Lisa manages materials for more than 800 classes, working tirelessly with students, faculty, teaching assistants, department admins, and publishers to ensure everyone understands and benefits from the program. Her dedication has made Access Now a model of efficiency and service, and it’s a testament to her persistence, organization, and care for our community.
I’ve had the good fortune of knowing Lisa for only six of her twenty-five years here, but in that time, she’s taught me so much about what it means to truly serve others through your work.
- She’s taught me flexibility — reminding me that higher education is always changing, and those who serve students and faculty must adapt to new learning and teaching styles with creativity and compassion.
- She’s taught me leadership — not just through titles or roles, but through a willingness to share knowledge, mentor others, and lift people up along the way.
- And she’s taught me to find joy in the journey — to laugh and have fun, even in the busiest seasons. Lisa often says that some of her favorite memories came from moments that were hectic at the time, like when the men’s basketball team made the Final Four in 2013 and every Shocker Store employee jumped in to help with t-shirt sales. As Lisa recalls, “It was crazy but fun!”
Lisa has already shared that she plans to retire in February 2027 — a date that, as her director, I’m not exactly eager for, but as her friend, I will celebrate wholeheartedly. Because she has more than earned it.
As Peter Strople once said, “A legacy is not leaving something for people. It’s leaving something in people.” And that is exactly what Lisa has done. She’s leaving a legacy of dedication, kindness, and excellence in every person she’s worked with and every student she’s supported.
So, Lisa, thank you for 25 incredible years of service, leadership, and heart. We’re so grateful for the mark you’ve made on the Shocker Store and Wichita State University — and even more grateful for the person you are.
Lisa Tilma
Shocker Store Director